Core

Azienda Agricola Fontodi

Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale Sangiovese 2016

Medium ruby core , little more lighter garnet rim . Quite aromatic , spicy red plum , pine resin , red cherry and herbal , tobacco hints . On the palate a little richer and denser than the 2021 , herbal tinged red and dark fruits , pretty high acidity with more dusty tannins . Overall a bigger more structured tannic framed wine . Very long and powerful on the finish . Mineral and fresh summer fruit finish . This is very young still needs probably another decade , but is very promising . Balanced but powerful . Will probably have a longer life than the more refined and elegant 2021 — a day ago

Tom, Tom and 11 others liked this

Paolo Scavino

Bric dël Fiasc Barolo Nebbiolo 2019

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 “Bric dël Fiasc” pours a beautiful garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe, red (mostly) and black fruits: raspberries, Maraschino cherry, underripe strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate, freshly cut sod, dried green herbs, talcum powder, and dried gravelly earth. On the palate the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, zippy and grippy. A beautiful Bric dël Fiasc that has a long life ahead. Drinking well now and should continue to do so through 2044, easy. — a month ago

Tom, Martin and 13 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Medium deep garnet core with slightly wider terracotta rim . Quite exuberant nose , more dark fruits than the Barton , spicy , cedar notes , touch of funk , swimming pool note also . On the palate quite spicy more intense black fruits , cassis , sous bois , coffee , saline , mineral tinged sea spray notes . Balanced acidity and quite rounded but noticeable tannin . Long and denser on the finish than the Barton . Showing well now but can go another 10 years no problem — 3 months ago

Tom, Shay and 9 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

Medium ruby garnet core , garnet rim . More dusty cassis , spicy blackberry , tobacco , sea spray, hot bricks. On the palate refreshing acidity and more gritty tannin , cassis , blackberry, mineral and tobacco notes . Slightly more linear on the mid palate with good balance and excellent length with mineral tobacco hints . This is drinking well now with time in the decanter , but will continue to improve over the next 5-10 years and last well a further 10-15 years. Really benefited from time in the decanter . — 4 months ago

Tom, Bob and 8 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2006

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 14 days ago

Bob, Tom and 15 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Opened several hours prior and decanted off sediment and a portion of the cork that had broke and crumbled before returning to the bottle. The 2007 “Howell Mountain” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and very slight rim variation. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of dark fruit: black currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, earth and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is firing on all cylinders right now and the structure suggests the power of the 2007 vintage is not slowing down anytime soon. Drink now with a decant and through 2037 with ease. — 2 months ago

Tom, Ming and 12 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

One of the very best Howell Mtn. producers.

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2019 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherries, red roses, tangerine, pomegranate, talcum powder, dried sage, truffle, and dried stony earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. A lovely expression of 2019 Barbaresco. Drink now with patience and through 2049. — 3 months ago

David, Martin and 17 others liked this

Paolo Bea

Riserva Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Sangiovese Blend 2007

Wow, such a pleasure to drink this at this stage. Oodles of dark red and black fruits at the core with a frame of tertiary notes. Subtle spice and and savory notes too. The palate is med+ to full bodied with med+ long but fine grain tannin that are starting to resolve. Deep and pronounced on the palate with a long, and subtly structured finish. Really fun and really good! — a month ago

Brian, Tom and 2 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black and red currants, black and red, bramble fruit, tobacco, leather, cocoa, earth, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Despite the character and quality, I didn’t find this to be a powerhouse rather, this was quietly confident. The finish is long, lovely…very demure. Looking great at 18 years young and there’s a lot of life left. If this is any indication of longevity, the 2006 “Terrace Select” might live forever. Drink now with a decant for air and sediment and enjoy through 2036 easy. — a month ago

Ming, Douglas and 12 others liked this
David T

David T Influencer Badge

I still liked the 06, but it was my least favorite vintage. I’ve had from them now from 2006-13. Had I posted it, I would have given it a 93 as well.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Oh! the rusticity of Rafanelli Cabbage...

Domaine Drouhin

Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2022

Delectable Wine
9.3

The 2022 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills wafts up a delicately spicy blend of dusty black cherries, ground cloves and dried roses. It is round and supple yet lifted in feel, with crisp red berry fruits elevated by a core of zesty acidity as hints of sour citrus add cheek-puckering tension. This tapers off long and perfumed with a bed of crunchy tannins that frames the experience remarkably well. I would never guess that the 2022 hails from a warm vintage. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2024)
— 4 months ago

M liked this